- Yvo Van Regteren Altena Perfumer:
Yvo Van Regteren Altena is a remarkable figure in the world of perfumery. Born in 1958, his olfactory journey began at a young age when, on his 6th birthday, he realized his exceptional sense of smell.
In his early adult life, despite being offered a job as a perfumer at the renowned IFF at 18, Yvo chose a different path. He pursued a career as a professional cellist, studying at the Florence Conservatory. However, an injury to his left arm led him to shift his focus again, this time to law. Eventually, he found his true calling in journalism, where he dedicated over 30 years to writing mainly about the world of scents and lifestyle.
Throughout his extensive travels, which took him around the world more than 36 times, Yvo met many of the world's most famous perfumers. These encounters, particularly with the likes of Jean-Claude Ellena from Hermès, Fran?ois Demachy from Dior, and Jacques Polge from Chanel, deeply inspired him. Their passion for creating enchanting fragrance combinations emboldened Yvo to fulfill his long - standing dream of creating his own perfumes.
Yvo's first creation, YVRA 1958 l’essence de l'essence, marked the beginning of his foray into the world of perfume creation. His approach to perfume - making is unique. Unlike traditional perfumers who may spend years learning to create their own molecules, Yvo mixes his favorite ingredients from different perfumes at various levels. He experiments with the strength and notes, much like a classical music composer crafting a symphony. For example, he might take bergamot from one perfume and patchouli from another, carefully balancing them to achieve the perfect formula.
His creations are known for their sophistication, refinement, and the element of surprise. Yvo has a deep - seated preference for using high - quality, sophisticated ingredients and highly concentrated formulas. He aims to make perfumes that are not only long - lasting but also stand the test of time. Additionally, his commitment to quality extends to other aspects, such as ensuring some of his products are vegan.
Yvo Van Regteren Altena's perfume line, YVRA, offers a range of scents. YVRA 1958 is a citrus - like scent with bergamot, orange flower, cedar, and tonka bean, making it ideal for daytime wear. YVRA 1965 is a spicy, woody, and sexy fragrance featuring pink pepper, saffron, incense, and patchouli, perfect for evenings. YVRA 1979 exudes warmth, mystery, and power with cedar, vetiver, and guaiac wood, suitable for both the office during the day and a dinner date at night. YVRA 1991, with bergamot, petit grain, and rosemary, provides a firm and refreshing overture, making it a great option throughout the year during the daytime.
In addition to traditional perfumes, Yvo has also expanded his brand into other areas. He developed an eco - friendly and delicious - smelling windscreen washer fluid, YVRA 1958, as an alternative to the chemical - laden products commonly used. He also created l’essence de désinfectants, a perfectly scented antiseptic with an alcohol base of over 80% to free hands and home surfaces from bacteria. Furthermore, in response to customer requests, he transformed the YVRA 1958 fragrance into a high - concentration perfume oil for a hand & body wash, adding pro - vitamin B5 to moisturize, cleanse, and refresh the skin.
Overall, Yvo Van Regteren Altena has made a significant mark in the world of perfumery. His unique background, combined with his passion for scents and commitment to quality, has resulted in a collection of fragrances that are truly one - of - a - kind.
